Catch-up

I can't say we have been up to much, but somehow we've been very busy. The boys are both growing too fast, and I feel as though if I blink I might miss something. It's true what they say, that your everything goes so much faster with your second (and third and fourth....) child. So, here goes a little catch-up:

Asher just did a couple of weeks of swimming lessons and loved it, except for the first couple of days. Day 1 was a disaster. He cried and wined the whole time. Day 2 he didn't even want to go, so I bribed him with treats (the cookies he choked on, I mentioned a couple of entries ago). He did get in the pool, but only as an appendage to the poor, patient teacher. He spent the whole lesson crying and wrapped around her neck. I did ask her what she wanted me to do, and was ready to take him out, but she told me I should just put him in which told me she was willing to deal with it. What a saint! He loved the rest of the time, and made a bunch of friends and now thinks he can swim (we've still got a ways to go until he could ditch the floaties for good though).



Beckett is growing fast. I've never had people tell me my baby was a "fatty" before. He is definitely rounder and chubbier than Ash was, and for a baby that was nearly 2 months early he is catching up fast! I love his cheekies. They are so kissable. He is such a ticklish baby! He laughs like crazy if you tickle him just about anywhere (probably gets that from me). He seems to love having his diaper changed too. Beckett gets all smiley and happy, even when you pull out those cold wipies. He's also quite a talker. He'll babble back and forth and have his own little conversation with you. It's so cute. Asher still adores him and Beckett does seem to light up with smiles whenever Asher comes and overwelms him. Brothers. I love that they will have eachother to play, talk and grow up with. To prove his love, Asher has even shared the beloved "Buddies." All of them, at the same time.

I don't think so!

All the buddies.

Beckett's about to get some Asher love:)

Asher baby talkin' with Beck.

Corey's B-day

Corey's birthday was a couple of weeks ago, and although I did take a few pictures, I totally forgot to blog it...what is happening to my brain?? So, here goes a little bit of catch up. His birthday was a fun night with the fam, and Aaron and Meagan dropped by too. In lieu of birthday cake, Corey opted for birthday cream puffs, yum! We had another tantrum from Asher, insisting the presents were his and he needed to open them all. No good, I say. Time out for him...he can't claim every birthday for himself, so we are working on this one. Good times though, and as always, we celebrated all week long for Corey. Happy Birthday, and we love you lots!

Waterguns. We started small, but I would bet we end up with some giant super soakers by the end of the summer.

This kid always enjoys his food to the fullest.

Asher-isms

I just wanted to write down a few of my favorite funny things Ash says lately, so I don't forget them...

• "Mom, can I help you water the planets?" Translation: planets = plants.

• Asher thinks my "eyes are broken" because I wear glasses/contacts. Come to think of it, I guess they are.

• We aren't frequent patrons of McDonald's, but have recently gone a few times here and there. When we see one, he asks if we can go to "Hop-donald's" for ice cream.
  

• We haven't let Asher chew gum yet, figuring he'll just swallow it. He has discovered that it exists though, and if he sees me pop a piece in, he wants to know if I'm eating "dum." What in the world? Dum? Funny boy.

• Lately he's been talking about all the churches we pass, and always wants to know if they are "the Church of Jesus Christ of Hourly Sinks."
  

• Asher found a party hat in his room from his 1st birthday (I know, I know, why are those still around?). He wouldn't take the thing off all day, and once he discovered there was more than one, he went and stuck one on poor captive Beckett. He was so proud.

• Beckett was sleeping in the Bouncer in the kitchen the other day and had just woken up.
  "Mo-om, Beckett's awa-ake," Ash yelled to me (I was 5 feet away). The next thing I knew I turned around to find Asher holding Beckett's eyes closed for him. I guess he wanted him to go back to sleep. Time out for that one!

• Asher has just stopped calling him "Bucket." I think I'm gonna miss that one. I think I slipped a few times myself!

• Asher's response to my asking him to grab me a diaper for Beck: "No thank you Mom, I'm just fine." What a very polite NO.
  

Too Many Cookies

What I perceived as a fairly uneventful afternoon ended up having a very eventful twist. After swimming lessons (which is in itself another story I will definitely tell another day) I gave Asher his promised treat, a personal pack of Chips Ahoy cookies. By the time we had gotten home, he'd eaten 3 of the 4 cookies and was ready to finish the job. We headed out back to water some newly planted shrubs and Asher immediately rushed up to our big dog Dion to play. He knew the remainder of the cookie in his hand was going to be a doggie treat if he didn't act fast, so he shoved the last big bites of the cookie into his mouth and commenced playing with the beast. He was running around giggling and trying to get Dion to chase him, while I headed over to the hose to water the plants. I'd finished half of the watering when I turned around and heard Asher choking.
The Mommy Survival Mode kicked in. I rushed over to Ash, who by this time was totally panicking. First I whacked his back a couple of times, HARD. Nothing changed. Thoughts of the Heimlich Maneuver were flashing wildly in my brain, so I grabbed his stomach with both of my hands and started sort of heaving him in mid air...his body folded over my arms as I lifted him up and down. I didn't stop until I heard him crying and coughing up cookie chunks. He came in the house and then the poor kid threw up. And who could blame him with all the jiggling and whacking he'd taken. How scary!! I am just so glad he's alright! I love him way too much to let some cookies (that I gave him) hurt him. I guess I need to have some new rules regarding food and running around laughing...NO MORE of that. I put it right up there with running with scissors. I was so worked up about the event that the adrenaline was pumping for an hour. What an afternoon!

Ten Whole Years

Then...

WOW. Ten years is a long time, but it has gone by so fast I can hardly believe it. Corey and I just celebrated our ten year anniversary on May 8th. With a new baby and a 3 year old at home, we kept it pretty mellow, but still memorable.

Later...

My gift to him was ten days of gifts with notes attached, each containing a reason I love him. It was actually really fun to put together and do. It started with an e-mail sent to his work account saying, ...how do I love thee? let me count the ways. There's one for each year we've been wed for the next ten days. He loved it, and looked forward to the prize every day (he even reminded me a couple of times when he didn't get it as soon as he'd hoped...where's my surprise, he'd say). One day we did get to go to dinner and spend the night at a hotel since my mom was in town to watch Ash. I think he was extra surprised about that one.

On our anniversary night, we had a babysitter watch Asher and we went to dinner at Seasons in Old Town, which was exactly where we ate the night he proposed. After dinner, we walked around the Plaza and even sat and reminisced on the bench where he asked me to marry him. It was kind of fun to realize how much we've done and been through together over the past decade, and exciting to look forward to the next ten years and what they might hold. Corey surprised me with some beautiful diamond earrings.... I am not a big fancy-jewelry type of a gal, but these I love (who could resist, really?)!

Now...

So here's to the ten years we've spent together...to our beautiful children, our marriage, all we've been through.... I love you, Corey and can't wait to spend another ten (and more!) experiencing life together.

Day for Mammas

Mother's Day this year started with a special treat...breakfast in bed! I remember as a kid we always did that for my mom, so it brought back memories for me. Asher came up with Corey with a plate of food and excitedly exclaimed, "Mom, we brought you some lunch!" Love it. Of course, the whole time they were getting it ready, I had to make myself stay in bed. The sounds of two boys struggling to make something in the kitchen downstairs made it all the more enjoyable and special. Beckett's gift to me was sleeping a couple of hours longer than usual (6 hours between feedings...woo hoo!), and believe me that was priceless. Asher also gave me a present and wanted to know if there were any more...he wanted a present to. I loved that he kept telling me, "Happy Mom's Day." Little boys sure do know how to melt their Mom's hearts, don't they?
At church, the primary did their customary song for Mothers. Now that Asher is a sunbeam, he gets to participate, which is SO fun as a parent. This was his first time getting to sing in sacrament (there was one other time, but I didn't have him go up and he ended up belting the chorus from our row way in the back...bad mom, my mistake!). He was unsure at first. When all the kids were being corralled at the front, he kept looking at us like are you crazy, you never let me run up to the front. Once he decided it was okay, he ran. I can't say he actually sang any of that song, but it was sure fun watching him look all around and at the kids who were actually singing.
After church we grilled some kabobs and relaxed. Good day, and I am one lucky momma. I love that I get to be one, the good the bad and the ugly, it's all worth it!

Corey and I both have amazing mothers, neither of which we get to be with on their special day, so we are sending out hugs, kisses and lots of love to them. We love you!

Blessing Day

We finally debuted our little guy at church. We've avoided it like the plague with Beckett because of all the kiddos and germs, and well, doctor's orders. It was also his blessing day, so we had a little bit of family in town too. My parents and Corey's mom were in town for the event, which was really nice, and Corey's brothers were there for the blessing too.

Getting ready.

After getting him ready for his big day, we were off to church. On the drive over, I asked Corey if he was nervous at all. He confided to me that he was only worried he'd say Asher's name instead of Beckett's! It went smooth as can be though, right name and all. When Corey was getting Beckett out of the car, I looked over at him and was horrified by what I saw. Beckett had spit up all over and had curdled, white chunks running down his face and covering his front and shoulder. Ahhhh! I guess he was looking a little too perfect, so he had to make things right.

Corey gave Beckett an absolutely beautiful blessing, and Beckett was a perfect baby up there. Aaron told us that Beckett was just laying there chilling and looking around during the blessing. During the rest of sacrament meeting, he fell asleep, snuggled and kept me warm. I forgot how nice it is to have an excuse to have blankets at church. I am always cold, and now I have reinforcements with me!

Afterward, we headed to our place for an early dinner. It was fun hanging out with family. Asher especially enjoyed all the grandparents and uncles and was really sad when he woke up in the morning and realized everyone was gone. What an enjoyable day we had, and what a sweet little boy we've added to our family. We sure do love our boys!

The family: